Deodorizer apparatus and germ destroyer



1952 G. 1.. MILLER DEODORIZER APPARATUS AND GERM DESTROYER 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 31 1947 BY W W5 Afio'rvxeg' nostril assailingodors.

Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UN HED STATES PATENT F Ffli 'E 2,585,339 f I QDEobbiti ZllEAlPPAItK'lils DESTROYER "Giista've hfMiller; Geneseo, Ill.Appii'aeaniaittn, 19i7,serie"1 1%. 923.477

"1 Claim. 1

My invention has reference to a deodorizer apparatus and germ destroyer,and has for its chief purpose to counteractthe unsavory odors a room,and destroy any elements that tend to affect the health of human beingsunfavorably.

For a number of years it has been the practice to burn apiece of incensein a room to get rid of undesirable odors, the fumes from the incensebeing supposed to be more desirable than other A forerunner of this wasthe burning of a piece of cloth or cord in a room, for a similarpurpose. A more recent plan is the use of a slowly evaporating liquid,placed at one or more points in a room, and containing chemicals of acharacter that will, overcome smoke fumes and otherodorants of the air,some of which devices are known as air-wicks. The operation of these isslow, and of a local character, so that in a room, of any size it wouldbe necessary to position several receptacles containing the liquid atdifferent points.- To be more effective it is necessary that the liquidbe vaporized so as to act promptly, and one of the objects of thepresent invention is to combine with the deodorant a means for the morerapid vaporation thereof, and dispersal of the vapors to all parts of aroom.

The invention is of a duplex character, embracing the means abovereferred to-for rapid vaporization of the liquid 'and.'diffusion of thefumes, and a means for carrying a current of air through a confinedspace fitted with mean for destroying any bacteria or germs passingtherethrough, by the use of a deadilyinsectiide, suchas DDT.

One place in which a deodoriz'ing apparatus is in demand is in the bodyof an automobile, especially during the closed season, when the vehicleis likely to be filled with the "fumes of tobacco being used by one ormore occupants of the car, either in the form of cigarette, cigar, orpipe. An adaptation is shown and set forth herein whereby theseunpleasant and at times unbearable conditions can be relieved orentirely dispelled.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention,will more fully appear from the following specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 shows the invention in Side elevation,

with the nearest side plate broken away, and parts in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, also partly in section, as on brokenlines 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detached view of the germ killing device, in verticallongitudinal section.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the device, as in Fig. 1. i I

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary part of a motor vehicle, with theinventionapplied thereto.

Fig. 6 is a-similar view with a modified arrangement of the invention. r

Fig. 7 is a front view of the casing shown in the last two figures. v i

In Figures 1' and 2 of the drawing is shown a box-like 'casing 8, havinga bottom 9, sides ill, and front piece 11, having openings-l2 and l3, onopposite sides of a partition 14. The-casing also has a removabletop-plate or cover 'I 5, and is projected rearwardly into acylindricalhousin'g I 6, in which is rotatably mounted a fan IT, bymeans ofa's'h'aft [8 supported at its ends in be'a'rings-in the sidesofth'e housing. 'Said shaft is-driven from a small electric motor 19attached to the enter thejcasin'g.

In the spa e on one side of the partition m is placed a pan 20, in whichis a'sponge 2| or other absorbent material, to be saturated by a liquiddeodorant, the vapors from which can pass upwardly and out through theopening I2. Confiiecting the space above the pan 2!) with the 'fanhousing [Bis a conduit 22, through which a current of air passes "fromthe fan into the space above the deodorant, carrying along with itvapors therefrom, which are carried out through the opening l2, anddifiused throughout a room or other space in which the device ispositioned. The an 20 is normally closed b a shutter 24, slidable in anopening in the side of the casing 8. By opening said shutter andstarting the'fah I! the vaporization of the chemicalized liquid in thepan 20 will take place, with the vapors driven into allparts of theconfined space containing the apparatus. By opening the shutter 24 to agreater or less extent the amount of vaporization will beproportionately increased or diminished.

0n the opposite side of the partition I4 is a smaller casing 25, open atboth ends, and provided with a series of horizontal corrugated plates26, spaced from each other to form shallow passages between the same.The inner end of the casing 25 is connected by a conduit 21 with the fanhousing l6, through which a current of air is conveyed into thepassages, retarded to some extent by the corrugations, and passing outthrough the opening 13. The plates 26 are coated with a DDT compound, orother insecticide which is fatal to insects, germs and the like uponcontact therewith, and any such germs which may be brought into theapparatus through the blades of the fan will come in contact with thecorrugations on the plates 25, and be exterminated. The blades of thefan, when in rapid motion, are themselves a menace to the germ life, bygrinding them up, and as an additional resource the blades of the fanmay be similarly treated with the poisonous compound.

The invention can be stationed at any desired point in a. room, and thevapors therefrom, when charged with an enective deodorant, designed forthe neutralizing of unpleasant smells in a room, will positively destroythe same, including smoke clouds irom burning tobacco.

In Fig. 4 is shown a simple form of the invention, for the use of thedeo'dorizer alone, in which the pan 20 is replaced by a Jar or bottle30, with a wide opemng at the top, normally closed by a cap 3|. isclosed by a lid 32, which can be removed for placing the bottle in thecasing A, or for-removing the same, or for removing the cap 3|. From asmall rotary fan 33 in an extension B of the casing A, a current of airis driven through a passage 34 into and through the space above thebottle, and out through the opening l2. The fan is actuated by anelectric motor C in the outer end of the extension. The bottle isnecessarily open at such times, and it is provided with an absorbentmaterial 30a, similar to that in the pan 2u, which assists in thevaporizing action, and somewhat retards the same. ent material may beextended outwardly above the neck of the bottle, in form of a wick.

The invention is not limited to use in a home or apartment, but it is ofgreat value for use in ofiice buildings, auditoriums and .show houses,farm buildings and chicken houses, railroad and bus stations, and otherplaces where people congregate in numbers.

In Fig. 5 is shown the hood 36 of an automobile, with a partition 31 atthe rear end and radiator 38 at the front, in rear of which is supportedthe usual air-fan 40, driven from the motor shaft by a belt 4|. In anopening in the partition is mounted a casing similar to the casing 8before described, and with a similar duplex arrangement within thecasing, not shown in said figure. The casing has a funnel shaped intakeat 39, for the entrance of a current of air placed in circulation by thefan 40. The front of the casing is closed by a pair of shutters 42and'43, I

provided with fingerholds 42a and 43a, by means of which the shuttersmay be operated. When it is desired to have a current of air pass overthe pan 20 in said casing the fan is started and the shutter 42 openedto any desired extent, as. shown in Fig. 7. The movement of the air isas hereinbefore described, except that the fumes from the liquid in thepan will be carried rearwardly into the body of the vehicle, counteract-Such absorb- The space above .the bottle 4 ing any odors therein, andlargely eliminating the tobacco smoke evil.

If it 18 desirous to make use of the poisonous elements in the casingthe shutter 42 is left closed anathe shutter 43 opened, by sliding tothe opposite side, permitting a current of air to pass outwardly overand through the corrugated plates, treated with a toxic compound, asbefore .described. This destroys the germ life, and preeludes thepassage of any such germs or small insects into the vehicle.

In Fig. 6 is shown a form of the invention in which the casing isprovided with a special blower apparatus, in a casing 46, driven by amotor 41, with a flexible connection 45 between the fan casing andintake 44 of the casing. Air is supplied to the fan through a tube 48leading from a-source of outside air, such as a ventilator 49 positionedin the side wall of the vehicle hood, omitted in the drawing.

When used in an automobile the invention can be combined with theheating system of the vehicle, as a matter of convenience, but this isnot essential, and about the only effect would be to heat the current ofair passing through the deodorizer.

What I claim, and desire to secure, is:

In a device of the class described, a casing for positioning in anenclosed room, a pair of adjacent compartments in said casing, with anair passage in each compartment in parallel relation with each other, adeodorant container in one of said compartments opening into one of saidpassages for outward discharge, a casing in the other compartmentembracing one of said passages, with a plurality of corrugated currentretarding plates therein, with an outward discharge similar to that ofthe first-named passage, a fan-casing in said first named casing withmeans of communication with said passages independently of each other,means for shutting off a current of air from either of said passagesindependently of the other, a rotary fan in said fan casing, and meansfor actuating said fan.

GUSTAVE L. IVDILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 2,056,353 Haunz Oct. 6, 19362,087,436 Kirby July 20, 1937 2,150,263 Chesney Mar. 14, 1939 2,262,772Larsen Nov. 18, 1941 2,335,056 Grison Nov. 23, 1943 2,389,698 StowellNov. 27, 1945 2,472,011 Graham May 31, 1949

